Inside door lock



Aug. 9, 1966 H. BERGER INSIDE DOOR LOCK Filed May 4, 1964 INVENTOR,

HO .5 Ear-yer BY Q 531 l/ arnqy United States Patent 3,265,425 INSIDE DOOR LOCK Hans Berger, 17647 Belinda St., Encino, Calif. Filed May 4, 1964, Ser. No. 364,428 7 Claims. (Cl. 292-202) This invention relates to a door lock for use on the inside of a door, to provide security and safety for the occupants of a house or room.

Almost all locks, latches and fastening devices which are now in use on the inside of a door have the disadvantage that they can be forced open or torn loose through the application of extreme force to the door from the outside.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide an inside door lock which is so constructed that it is impossible for it to be opened or torn loose, regardless of how much force is applied to the outside of the door.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lock of the type described which can be mounted on any door or door jamb without requiring any alteration in the door structure other than possibly mortising the lock parts slightly into the side of the door and/ or door jamb, wherever this is required.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lock of the class described which is extremely simple and economical to manufacture, so that it can be sold at a relatively low price for widespread distribution and sale. In particular, two of the principal parts form-ing my lock are substantially identical with each other, so that they can be formed from a single blank.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an inside security door lock which can be mounted on either a left or right hand opening door.

It is another object of my invention to provide a lock of the type described which is capable of being used either by itself or in combination with a pin or padlock to provide greater security or a more permanent lock.

In essence, my invention contemplates an inside door lock which includes a pair of side plates, one of which is adapted to be mounted on the inside edge of the door and the other of which is adapted to be mounted in a corresponding position on the side edge of the door jamb. Each of the side plates is provided with a portion which protrudes inwardly into the room. The protruding portion of each side plate is provided with a slot, the slots preferably being arcuate in shape.

A latch member is preferably pivotally mounted on one of the side plates so that it may be pivoted between open and closed positions and be securely held in each such position by the force of gravity. When the latch member is disposed in its closed position, it has a portion which fits within the slots to prevent the movement of either side plate with respect to the other, thus preventing the door from being opened. The latch member and side plates may carry aligned openings for the insertion of a pin or padlock to make the lock more secure or more permanent.

The fastening members which secure the side plates to the door and door jamb are preferably directed transversely to the door and door jamb, so that they cannot possibly be pulled out when the door is closed, regardless of the amount of force which is applied to the outside of the door.

It is accordingly among the objects of my invention to provide an inside door lock having all of the advantages and benefits of the structure set forth above and which is described in further detail hereinafter in this specification.

My invention also comprises such other objects, ad-

3,265,425 Patented August 9, 1966 vantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments of my invention, it should be understood that the same are susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a door and door jamb in open position, showing my lock mounted thereon and in open position; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door and door jamb in closed position, with the lock in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the side plate which carries the latch member;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the same;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the same, taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, showing the side plate which does not carry the latch member.

A preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate my invention comprises a slide plate 10 having an inner portion 11, which is adapted to be mounted in overlying relationship to the side edge of the door jamb. Formed integrally with the side plate 10 and disposed at the end of the inner portion .11 is a triangular prong 12, which is adapted to be driven into the door jamb to hold the side plate 10 in place.

A fastening member such as a screw 13 extends through an opening in the center of the inner portion 11 into the door jamb. The portion of the face of the side plate 10 immediately surrounding the screw opening may be counter-sunk so that the head of the screw 13 is flush with the face of the side plate 10.

A portion of the top and bottom edges of the side plate 10 adjacent to the inner portion 11 is struck inwardly to provide a pair of substantially rectangular tabs 14. The tabs 14 are adapted to fit against the edge of the door jamb at right angles to the side plate 10. The tabs 14 accordingly provide a sinrple means for orienting and mounting the side plate 10 properly with respect to the door jamb.

The outer portion 17 of the side plate 10 protrudes toward the inside of the room. It carries a downwardly directed .arcuate slot 15 which extends downwardly from its top edge. It also carries adjacent the end thereof a circular opening 16. The side plate 10 may be mortised as shown in the drawings, or mortising may be omitted if there is suflicient clearance between the side edges of the door and door jamb to accommodate the side plates.

A second side plate 18 is formed in substantially the same manner as the side plate 10. It includes an inner portion 19, which overlies the side edge of the doorin a position corresponding to and aligned with the inner portion 11 of the side plate 10. A prong 20 is driven into the door and a screw 21 extends into the door. A pair of tabs 41 are struck inwardly to orient the side plate 18 with respect to the door- The side plate 18 may be mortised as shown, or the mortising may be omitted if it is unnecessary.

The outer portion 22 of the side plate 18 carries a downwardly directed arcwate slot 23 and a circular opening 24, which correspond to and are aligned with the corresponding portions of the side plate 10.

A latch member 26 is pivotally mounted on the upper corner of the outer portion 22 of side plate 18 by means of a rivet 27. The rivet 27, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, has abifurcated end which is deflected ou-twardly to hold it in place and mount the latch member for free pivotal rotation with respect to the side plate 18.

The latch member 26 comprisesa pair of sides 28 and 29, which extend substantially parallel to the side plate 18 in which are dimensioned to straddle both of 3 the side plates and 18 when the latch member 26 is in closed position. The sides 28 and 29 are substantially triangular in shape, with the hypotenuse portion being convexly curved. p

The sides 28 and 29 of the latch member 26 are joined by a fiat top 30 and convexly curved catch 31,

"which substantially follows the curvature of the hypotenuse portion of the sides 28 and 29 and which also corresponds in contour to the curvature of the slots and 23 of the side plates 10 and 18. The sides 28 and 29 of the latch member 26 carry circular openings 32 and 33 which correspond to the openings 16 and 24 in the side plates 10 and 18.

v The latch member 26 is movable between two positions, both of which are over center with respect to the pivot point (rivet 27), so that the force of gravity tends to retain the latch member 26 in either of the two positions to which it is moved and prevent accidental movement of the latch member 26 from one position to the other.

FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings show the latch member 26 in its retracted or open position, in which the edge of the top 30 engages the edge of the side plate 18 to stop the movement of the latch member 26.

other and it is accordingly impossible for the door to be opened. If the door is moved toward open posi- -'tion, the catch 31 engages the edge of the stationary slot 15, to prevent further opening movement of the door;

It will also be noted that the screws 13 and 21 are directed transversely to the side plates 10 and 18 and are so disposed that they cannot be pulled out by the exertion of force upon the door, because there is insuflicient space between the door and door jamb to permit them to be pulled out.

When the latch member 26 is in closed position, the

ropenings 16, 24, 32 and 33 are all aligned with each other, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. ,cordingly possible to insert a pin through the aligned openings or to insert a padlock or other locking mem- It is acber through them in order to provide a more secure more permanent lock.

' When the latch member 26 is in open position, it

.does not cover the opening 24 in the side plate 18 and ;a pin or padlock may extend through the opening 24.

The latch member 26 must always be mounted on the door rather than the door jamb. My lockmay be changed for use on a left hand or right hand opening door by merely changing the latch member 26 from one side plate to the other. All of the parts remain the same. If desired by the manufacturer, the lock' can be sold and shipped unassembled, with a small pin provided which is dimensioned to pass through either of a pair of small holes 34 in the latch member 26, which also receive the rivet 27. The pin should have a pointed -end with an angle somewhat shallower than the bifurcated end of the rivet 27. After the rivet is in place in one of the holes 34, the pin is inserted through the other hole 34 and is struck with a hammer or blunt instrument to spread the end of the rivet 27. The

latch member 26 can thus be easily and quickly mounted on either of the side plates 10 and 18.

The manufacturer can also supply both left and right hand unit-s'which are made from the same parts and in which the latch member 26 is already mounted on one side plate or the other..

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, in which only one of the side plates corresponding to the side plate 10 is shown to illustrate the structure. This embodiment of the invention is substantially the same as the one described above, except that the side plate 40 has no prong or tabs and its inner portion is provided with two openings 42 and 43 for screws or fastening members. The remaining structure is the same as that described and the corresponding side plate differs from the above described side plate 18 only in the same manner that the side plate 40 differs from the side plate 10. V

It should be noted that when the latch member 26 is in closed position, the-sides 28 and 29 enclose and are disposed in close parallel relationship to the outer portions 17 and 22 of the side plates 10 and 18. They thus act to prevent any lateral movement or separation of the outer portions 17 and 22 in a direction away from each other which might result in permitting the door to be opened.

I claim:

1. An inside door lock comprising a pair of side plates adapted to be mounted in corresponding positions on the side edges of a door and door jamb, each of said side plates having an inner portion secured in overlying relationship to the door or door jamb by a fastening member which extends transversely to said side plate and door or door jamb, each of said side plates having an outer portion protruding from the door or door jamb, the outer portion of each of said side plates having a -slot, said slots being aligned with and face-to-face with 2. The structure described in claim 1, said latch mem-' her having a pair of sides straddling and extending substantially parallel to the outer portions of said side plates when said latch member is in closed position, each of said sides and the outer portions of each of said side plates having an opening, said openings all being aligned when said latch member is in closed position, said aligned openings being adapted to recevie a pin or padlock to prevent the movement of said latch member to open position.

3. The structure described in claim 1, and means for mounting said latch member on either of said side plates to permit use of said lock on a left or right hand opening door. v

4. An inside door lock comprising a pair of substantially rectangular elongated side plates adapted to be mounted in corresponding positions on the side edges of a door and door jamb, each of said side plates having an inner portion secured in overlying relationship to the door or door jamb by a fastening member which extends transversely to said side plate and door or door jamb, each of said side plates having an outer portion protruding from the door or door jamb, the outer portion of each of said side plates having an arcuate .slot extending downwardly from the top edge thereof, said slots being aligned and face-to-face in close proximity with each other when the door is closed, a latch member pivotally mounted adjacent the upper outer corner of the outer portion of the side plate carried by the 'door, said latch member having a catch adapted to fit said open position being out of engagement with said slots, said catch in said closed position being disposed within said slots to prevent the movement in an inward or outward direction of one of said side plates with respect to the other and prevent the opening of the door.

5. The structure described in claim 4, and an integrally formed triangular prong carried by the end of the inner portion of each of said side plates, said prongs adapted to be driven into the door and door jamb, the top and bottom edges of said side plates being struck inwardly adjacent the junction of said inner and outer portions of said side plates to provide a pair of inwardly directed right angular tabs on each of said side plates, said tabs adapted to engage the edge of the door or door jamb to orient said side plates.

6. The structure described in claim 4, said latch member being substantially U-shaped, with a pair of sides straddling and extending substantially parallel to the outer portions of said side plates when said latch .member is in closed position, said catch extending between said sides of said latch member.

7. An inside door lock comprising a pair of side plate adapted to be mounted in corresponding positions on the side edges of a door and door jamb, each of said side plates having an inner portion secured in overlying relationship to the door or door jamb by a fastening member which extends transversely to said side plate and door or door jamb, each of said side plates having an outer portion protruding from the door or door jamb, the outer portion of one of said side plates having a slot, a latch member pivotally mounted on the outer portion of the other of said side plates, said latch member having a catch adapted to fit within said slot, said latch member being movable between open and closed positions, said catch in said open position being out of engagement with said slot, said catch in said closed position being disposed within said slot to prevent the movement of side plates with respect to each other and prevent the opening of the door, said latch member and the outer portions of each of said side plates each having an opening, said openings all being aligned when said latch member is in closed position, said aligned openings being adapted to receive a pin or padlock to prevent the movement of said latch member to open position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 417,149 12/1889 Clark 292-238 949,405 2/ 1910 Smith 292136 976,509 11/1910 Shepard 292-202 1,434,280 10/1922 Bell 292286 1,781,208 11/ 1930 Youngblood 292-299 X 2,488,119 11/ 1949 Ferris 292-3 04 X FOREIGN PATENTS 92,679 1/ 1962 Denmark. 767,818 2/ 1957 Great Britain.

PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner. RICHARD E. MOORE, Examiner. 

1. AN INSIDE DOOR LOCK COMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE PLATES ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN CORRESPONDING POSITIONS ON THE SIDE EDGES OF A DOOR AND DOOR JAMB, EACH OF SAID SIDE PLATES HAVING AN INNER PORTION SECURED IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP TO THE DOOR OR DOOR JAMB BY A FASTENING MEMBER WHICH EXTENDS TRANSVERSELY TO SAID SIDE PLATE AND DOOR OR DOOR JAMB, EACH OF SAID SIDE PLATES HAVING AN OUTER PORTION PROTRUDING FROM THE DOOR OR DOOR JAMB, THE OUTER PORTION OF EACH OF SAID SIDE PLATES HAVING SLOT, SAID SLOTS BEING ALIGNED WITTH THE FACVE-TO-FACE WITH EACH OTHER WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, A LATCH MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE OUTER POPRTION OF THE SIDE PLATE CARRIED BY THE DOOR, SAID LATCH MEMBER HAVING A CATCH ADAPTED TO FIT WITHIN SAID SLOTS, SAID LATCH MEMBER BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, SAID CATCH IN SAID OPEN POSITION BEING OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SLOTS, SAID CATCH IN SAID CLOSED POSITION BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID SLOTS TO PREVENT THE MOVEMENT IN AN INWARD OR OUTWARD DIRECTION OF ONE OF SAID SIDE PLATES WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER AND PREVENT THE OPENING OF THE DOOR. 